Carlos Sainz backs 'unacceptable' Las Vegas claim: 'We've been quite vocal'

Carlos Sainz has backed Fernando Alonso's claim that the slot on the F1 calendar for the Las Vegas Grand Prix is 'unacceptable' and needs to change.

For the second successive season, the race in Sin City has kick-started a gruelling end-of-year triple-header which sees races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi follow immediately after. It will be repeated next season.

For all concerned in F1, there is the feeling that the calendar has to change. Alonso initially voiced his concern following the race, stating, “The place in the calendar is difficult for us. I don't think any other sport in the world would accept that".

Lending his weight to the argument, Williams driver Sainz has confirmed that he and his rivals have lobbied F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali.

"I agree with that," said Sainz, speaking to the media, including RacingNews365, when asked about Alonso's 'unacceptable' remark.

"I must agree with the fact that we have to come all the way to Vegas to then go to Qatar and Abu Dhabi. It's something that we've been quite vocal about, also to Stefano.

"For me, it should be a back-to-back with Brazil, because at least you don't have to go back to Europe, to adapt to Europe, to then come back here, and you just fly straight up to Vegas, do Vegas, then a week in between, and then have the double header of the Middle East to end.

"In an ideal scenario, what are the reasons to not be able to do that in the calendar? I don't know. But for me, I couldn't agree more that the fact that a triple header, Vegas, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, second year in a row, I don't think that's any good to anyone."

Domenicali doing all he can

Sainz also feels such an excursion is not good for the environment, particularly given F1's promotional drive to be carbon net zero by 2030.

Asked by RacingNews365 as to Domenicali's response to the drivers' "vocal" comments, he replied: "Stefano is trying to do everything he can to improve the calendar.

"He's already made some good steps for next year, I believe, but I don't think Stefano likes it either. He also travels with us.

"He's trying to do the best that he can to get the calendar into the best, most efficient place, and if we look at the carbon net zero thing that we are all targeting for 2030, we need to improve the travel that we're doing.

"There are a lot of people flying in and out, in private jets, from Vegas all the way back to Monaco, to then go back, or to Brazil to then go to here, then to go to Qatar. Being objective, there's room for improvement.

"I'm sure Stefano is doing everything he can. It's unfortunate, the time [of Las Vegas] on the calendar."